Early detection is key with all types of cancer, but delays happen because many have symptoms which are dismissed as other, benign health conditions. When it comes to gynaecological cancers such as cervical, ovarian or womb cancer, symptoms which might be normal if you have digestive problems, are getting older, or are in menopause could actually be a sign of something serious.
Dr Mary McCormack has been an oncologist specialising in gynaecological cancers for 24 years. She says despite high-profile awareness campaigns, many women still feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about seeking advice for symptoms which involve intimate parts of their body. “Symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, discharge, itching, pelvic pain or changes in sexual health can be associated with embarrassment, anxiety or stigma,” she says. “There can also be a tendency for women to normalise symptoms, particularly around menstruation, menopause or ageing, and delay seeking help as a result.”
According to the charity The Eve Appeal, 60 people a day are diagnosed with one of the five gynaecological cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. Womb cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, with around 10,000 women diagnosed each year. McCormack, who is based at HCA Healthcare UK’s Leaders in Oncology Care, says: “Fortunately, it is also one of the cancers most commonly diagnosed at an early stage.”
